RAART
Member
Hello there,
First time poster here on Audiokarma, though I have used vast resource of knowledge here without to register and finally did the jump.
I have received recently a broken Kenwood KD-2055 while I wanted to experience vinyl… A very, very good friend had this turntable in storage for long time. While the storage was unlocked, someone very smart cut the power and RCA cables from KD-2055, thus he had it just sitting there under some boxes and discovered this recently when cleaning the junk. This is how I got it!
I decided to try to restore it thus, I never did anything similar previously, and here the quest begins…
I did already a fair share of work on this but stuck on some topics that I will get later to it. However, to explain better what I did I will start from beginnings and how I got there.
THE BAD:
· Cables were missing
· Belt was dissolved
· The cover has seen better days for sure and there are few deeper scratches there but I am fine with it
· Stylus was broken in half
· Two feet are missing
When I got home, I wiped off the dust that I can work on it and started. First, I connected temporary some power cable that I had around and checked if I got some sign of smoke or anything. So far, all was good and I start pushing some buttons and levers. With plater removed, I checked if motor spins and it was running. Good!
From there I just simply without soldering connected some RCA cable and touched stylus. Got something into amp, thus I guessed the cartridge is working.
Cleaned the dissolved belt from the platter and vacuumed the rest from underneath the platter. While I looked how big is the platter, guessing that my other basic TT a Micro Seiki MB-12 that I had have the same size belt I removed it from MB-12 and installed on KD-2055. It fist and looks like they using same size belt. The platter was turning silently and I was not able to hear any noises from the motor or spindle. Now I started to check if the arm is moving nicely and all was ok. Downloaded free RPM app and checked for the speed accuracy. That was also fine and the platter was turning at 33.45 instead at 33.33 but I am fine for now with it thus it is very small difference there and I thought to leave it alone.
Cartridge that was on the KD-2055 was V-41 and looking into service manual that I downloaded looks like that this was optional. Found out that this cartridge is rebadged AT-10 or AT-11 cartridge, still not sure which one it is but I found some stylus for it and ordered it.
The stylus I got was a Phanstiehl 629-DE (.2 x .7 Elliptical). It was different color (green) then the original (yellow or light orange) and installed it. It plays!
Now that I can play, I checked the other stuff…
Auto return does not work!
I had some uneven sound on channels and some very strange noises coming through. Thought first that cartridge is shoot, but changed my mind after I checked the cartridge with multimeter and it was fine.
I have disassembled the bottom part, checked all the wiring and soldered new power cable though the one I had one was polarized and looking into pictures online saw that KD-2055 power cable was not polarized. I checked the internal wiring and decided to where to solder live wire (closer to black capacitor I guess). I had a long RCA cable with ground wire that I have removed from the car I had before and thought that if the cable was good for a car where all kind if inferences can occur that it will be good for a turntable as well.
I looked into auto return and tried to figure out which lever what does. After some tinkering, I got the auto return problem solved and it is working fine now.
Since I have major problems resolved, it was time was for some serious sound test. I connected the TT to my main system consisting of Rotel RC-1070 and RB-1050 powering the PSB GB-1 bookshelves as well as another power amp, RB-1562 powering the Wharfedale D220 paired with sub D10.
All is good and sound test was ok but I discovered that I have some HUM noise coming from the system. I put back the KD-2055 on working table and checked again all cables and I have the soldering joints reflow. Back into system and hum was still there… back on the table. After some back and forth I took another turn and solved the hum noise.
The KD-2055 is running and I can now enjoy some music… I must say that it does sound very good with that cartridge and if I can recall the sound of AT-95 that another friend had on his TT I think that this one is better with Phanstiehl stylus that I got. The sound is a bit bright on my system but I think that this can be resolved with another cartridge later.
I have on my way Grado Green stylus that I will install on Grado G1 cartridge that I have.
While I also had ordered another belt that I had received and installed back on Micro Seiki (FRB-25) I have on my way other FRB-27.3 belt to see how that will go with KD-2055 as there where mixed reports which belt to use.
Since all major stuff I sorted out here is where I need some help.
1. In service manual says that I should lubricate and use Daphne Oil. Since I never heard of Daphne oil or saw it somewhere, I need some clarification what it is and what to use instead that is readily available.
2. The other oil that I should use in manual says Silicone oil. I need to know as well what to use that is available here (I am located in Canada).
3. Silicone grease – here I am assuming that White Lithium Grease will do just fine but need input on this as well.
After this, I will take a shoot on new cartridge combo to see how far I can improve the sound and need some advice as well. I need to get a few headshells and wondering which ones will pair better with KD-2055 tonearm considering the Cartridge/Stylus combinations.
Here is few thoughts that I have in regards of Cartridge/Stylus combinations…
1. Grado G2 with 8MZ stylus (found locally a seller that will sell the cartridge as long as he finds it and a store that has in stock 8MZ stylus)
2. Grado G1 with Green stylus (since I have it, just waiting for stylus)
3. Nagaoka MP-110H (package with headshell, locally in stock)
4. Ortofon 2M Red (locally available and in stock)
Here are headshells locally available and in stock, (I am lost here):
(I think that 4-7 are DJ headshells and I do not know if they will work on KD-2055)
1. Ortofon SH-4
2. Audio Technica AT-HS1
3. Audio Technica AT-HS10
4. Pioneer DJ PC-HS01 (S or N or K)
5. Reloop Headshell
6. American Audio headshell
7. Stanton H4-S2 headshell
Anyone’s advice is very welcomed as I am new to the vinyl game!
Thanks Folks!
First time poster here on Audiokarma, though I have used vast resource of knowledge here without to register and finally did the jump.
I have received recently a broken Kenwood KD-2055 while I wanted to experience vinyl… A very, very good friend had this turntable in storage for long time. While the storage was unlocked, someone very smart cut the power and RCA cables from KD-2055, thus he had it just sitting there under some boxes and discovered this recently when cleaning the junk. This is how I got it!
I decided to try to restore it thus, I never did anything similar previously, and here the quest begins…
I did already a fair share of work on this but stuck on some topics that I will get later to it. However, to explain better what I did I will start from beginnings and how I got there.
THE BAD:
· Cables were missing
· Belt was dissolved
· The cover has seen better days for sure and there are few deeper scratches there but I am fine with it
· Stylus was broken in half
· Two feet are missing
When I got home, I wiped off the dust that I can work on it and started. First, I connected temporary some power cable that I had around and checked if I got some sign of smoke or anything. So far, all was good and I start pushing some buttons and levers. With plater removed, I checked if motor spins and it was running. Good!
From there I just simply without soldering connected some RCA cable and touched stylus. Got something into amp, thus I guessed the cartridge is working.
Cleaned the dissolved belt from the platter and vacuumed the rest from underneath the platter. While I looked how big is the platter, guessing that my other basic TT a Micro Seiki MB-12 that I had have the same size belt I removed it from MB-12 and installed on KD-2055. It fist and looks like they using same size belt. The platter was turning silently and I was not able to hear any noises from the motor or spindle. Now I started to check if the arm is moving nicely and all was ok. Downloaded free RPM app and checked for the speed accuracy. That was also fine and the platter was turning at 33.45 instead at 33.33 but I am fine for now with it thus it is very small difference there and I thought to leave it alone.
Cartridge that was on the KD-2055 was V-41 and looking into service manual that I downloaded looks like that this was optional. Found out that this cartridge is rebadged AT-10 or AT-11 cartridge, still not sure which one it is but I found some stylus for it and ordered it.
The stylus I got was a Phanstiehl 629-DE (.2 x .7 Elliptical). It was different color (green) then the original (yellow or light orange) and installed it. It plays!
Now that I can play, I checked the other stuff…
Auto return does not work!
I had some uneven sound on channels and some very strange noises coming through. Thought first that cartridge is shoot, but changed my mind after I checked the cartridge with multimeter and it was fine.
I have disassembled the bottom part, checked all the wiring and soldered new power cable though the one I had one was polarized and looking into pictures online saw that KD-2055 power cable was not polarized. I checked the internal wiring and decided to where to solder live wire (closer to black capacitor I guess). I had a long RCA cable with ground wire that I have removed from the car I had before and thought that if the cable was good for a car where all kind if inferences can occur that it will be good for a turntable as well.
I looked into auto return and tried to figure out which lever what does. After some tinkering, I got the auto return problem solved and it is working fine now.
Since I have major problems resolved, it was time was for some serious sound test. I connected the TT to my main system consisting of Rotel RC-1070 and RB-1050 powering the PSB GB-1 bookshelves as well as another power amp, RB-1562 powering the Wharfedale D220 paired with sub D10.
All is good and sound test was ok but I discovered that I have some HUM noise coming from the system. I put back the KD-2055 on working table and checked again all cables and I have the soldering joints reflow. Back into system and hum was still there… back on the table. After some back and forth I took another turn and solved the hum noise.
The KD-2055 is running and I can now enjoy some music… I must say that it does sound very good with that cartridge and if I can recall the sound of AT-95 that another friend had on his TT I think that this one is better with Phanstiehl stylus that I got. The sound is a bit bright on my system but I think that this can be resolved with another cartridge later.
I have on my way Grado Green stylus that I will install on Grado G1 cartridge that I have.
While I also had ordered another belt that I had received and installed back on Micro Seiki (FRB-25) I have on my way other FRB-27.3 belt to see how that will go with KD-2055 as there where mixed reports which belt to use.
Since all major stuff I sorted out here is where I need some help.
1. In service manual says that I should lubricate and use Daphne Oil. Since I never heard of Daphne oil or saw it somewhere, I need some clarification what it is and what to use instead that is readily available.
2. The other oil that I should use in manual says Silicone oil. I need to know as well what to use that is available here (I am located in Canada).
3. Silicone grease – here I am assuming that White Lithium Grease will do just fine but need input on this as well.
After this, I will take a shoot on new cartridge combo to see how far I can improve the sound and need some advice as well. I need to get a few headshells and wondering which ones will pair better with KD-2055 tonearm considering the Cartridge/Stylus combinations.
Here is few thoughts that I have in regards of Cartridge/Stylus combinations…
1. Grado G2 with 8MZ stylus (found locally a seller that will sell the cartridge as long as he finds it and a store that has in stock 8MZ stylus)
2. Grado G1 with Green stylus (since I have it, just waiting for stylus)
3. Nagaoka MP-110H (package with headshell, locally in stock)
4. Ortofon 2M Red (locally available and in stock)
Here are headshells locally available and in stock, (I am lost here):
(I think that 4-7 are DJ headshells and I do not know if they will work on KD-2055)
1. Ortofon SH-4
2. Audio Technica AT-HS1
3. Audio Technica AT-HS10
4. Pioneer DJ PC-HS01 (S or N or K)
5. Reloop Headshell
6. American Audio headshell
7. Stanton H4-S2 headshell
Anyone’s advice is very welcomed as I am new to the vinyl game!
Thanks Folks!
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